Radio frequency identification purchase transactions

Abstract

Methods and systems for using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) payment card are disclosed herein. The method generally comprises receiving an indicia identifying an RFID card, receiving a request to activate the RFID card, activating the RFID card by associating an initial value with a database record associated with the RFID card; receiving a PIN associated with the RFID card; receiving profile information; and associating the profile information with the database record. Systems for using RFID cards generally comprise an RFID card, an RFID account associated with the RFID card, a merchant communication module that receives indicia identifying the RFID card and sends a request to activate the RFID card, and a central processor or intermediary that receives a PIN associated with the RFID card and a request to activate the RFID card from the merchant communication module.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of adding value into an account of a user with a provider of goods or services, the method facilitated by a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled device and an RFID enabled point-of-sale (POS), the method comprising:
 a. the POS receiving a request via RFID communications to add a value amount the account associated with the device; 
 b. the POS interrogating the device and determining account identification information of the account associated with the device; 
 c. the POS sending the account identification information and the value amount to a central processor; 
 d. receiving at the POS confirmation from the central processor that the value amount was added into the account associated with the device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the value is in the form of a stored value card. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the account associated with the device is redeemable for services, the services selected from the group consisting of wireless telephone services, gaming services, media download services, music services, internet-enabled communication services, wireless web access, emergency road services, legal services, accounting services, tax services, transportation services, online dating services, internet access, and film processing. 
     
     
       4. The method  claim 1 , wherein the account associated with the mobile telecommunications device is redeemable for gifts, gasoline, groceries, entertainment, movies, ringtones, games, graphics, music, or customer rewards. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the account identification information comprises information sufficient to identify the provider and a specific account with the provider. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the central processor identifies the provider based on the information received from the POS. 
     
     
       7. A method of adding value into an account of a user with a specific provider of goods or services, the value being redeemable with one or more providers, including the specific provider, the account having an associated account number, the method facilitated by a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled device and a point-of-sale (POS), the device comprising an RFID tag and being associated with the account and the POS being RFID enabled, the method comprising:
 a. receiving at a central processor from the POS a redemption request requesting that a value amount be added to the account, the redemption request being received from the device by the POS through RFID communications and comprising:
 i. the value amount selected by the user of the device; and 
 ii. information identifying the device; 
 
 b. determining at the central processor the specific provider and the account number based on information identifying the device received in the redemption request; 
 c. causing by the central processor the value amount to be added into the account. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the value selected is in the form of a stored value card. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the account associated with the device is redeemable for services, the services selected from the group consisting of wireless telephone services, gaming services, media download services, music services, internet-enabled communication services, wireless web access, emergency road services, legal services, accounting services, tax services, transportation services, online dating services, internet access, and film processing. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the account associated with the mobile telecommunications device is redeemable for gifts, gasoline, groceries, entertainment, movies, ringtones, games, graphics, music, or customer rewards. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information identifying the device comprises information sufficient to identify the provider and a specific account with the provider associated with the device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the central processor determines the account number based on the determined provider and the information identifying the device. 
     
     
       13. A method of adding value into an account of a user with a provider of goods or services, the method facilitated by a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled device and an RFID enabled point-of-sale (POS), the method comprising:
 a. receiving at the device a communication from a local network, the local network determining that the device is RFID enabled and obtaining from the device identifying information via RFID, the communication from the local network presenting a user of the device an opportunity to obtain goods or services; 
 b. sending a communication from the device accepting or declining the opportunity to obtain the goods or services; 
 c. upon acceptance of the opportunity to obtain the goods or services, receiving at the device a confirmation. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the communication from the local network is an RFID communication. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a. the local network sending the device identifying information to a central processor; 
 b. the central processor sending to the device the opportunity to obtain the goods or services. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the opportunity to obtain goods or services sent to the device from the central processor is an SMS message. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the communication sent from the device accepting or declining the opportunity to obtain the goods or services is in the form of an SMS message. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the communication sent from the device accepting or declining the opportunity to obtain the goods or services is sent to the central processor. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the goods or services obtained are purchased by a user of the device. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a. upon acceptance of the opportunity to obtain the goods or service, selecting a source from which to transfer value to purchase the goods or services; 
 b. confirming the value source. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the device is associated with various value accounts prior to the purchase of the goods or services. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the source from which to transfer value to purchase the goods or services is selected from the list consisting of: credit card accounts, debit card accounts, bank accounts, checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and investment accounts. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , wherein a selection of the source from which to transfer value to purchase goods or services is conveyed to the central processor via an SMS message. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the device is associated with a value account during the purchase transaction. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the device is associate with a value account via an SMS message to the central processor, the SMS message comprising information sufficient to identify the value account. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining goods or services is the funding of an account redeemable for services, the services selected from the group consisting of wireless telephone services, gaming services, media download services, music services, internet-enabled communication services, wireless web access, emergency road services, legal services, accounting services, tax services, transportation services, online dating services, internet access, and film processing. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the goods or services are selected from the group consisting of redeemable for gifts, gasoline, groceries, entertainment, movies, ring-tones, games, graphics, music, or customer rewards.